Gordon's School

Last updated

Gordon's School
GordonsSchoolBadge.png
Location
Gordon's School
West End Woking
,
Surrey
,
GU24 9PT

England
Coordinates 51°20′37″N0°38′47″W / 51.3435°N 0.6465°W / 51.3435; -0.6465
Information
Former nameGordon Boys' School
Type academy
Day and boarding school [1]
Motto Semper fidelis
(Always faithful)
Religious affiliation(s)The school has a chapel with a reverend
Patron saint(s)Reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom
Established1885;139 years ago (1885)
FounderBy public subscription, at the express wish of Queen Victoria, as the National Memorial to General Gordon
Local authoritySurrey
Department for Education URN 139151 Tables
Ofsted Reports
ChairJane Valner
HeadmasterAndrew Moss
Staffapprox. 100
Gender Mixed
Age11to 18
Enrolment865 [2]
Capacity790
Houses6 Day and 5 Residential Boarding (One year 7 only)
Colour(s)Green & Yellow   
AffiliationGordon Foundation; an independent charitable trust established in 1888
Website www.gordons.school

Gordon's School is a secondary school with academy status in West End near Woking, Surrey, England. It was founded as the Gordon Boys' Home in 1885. It is now one of the 36 state boarding schools in England. It converted to an academy on 1 January 2013. [1] But controversy arose over the school charging £10,494 a year for day-pupil places. [3] [4] It has been argued that makes the state school selective, along with others which charge similar fees. Under the Education Act 1996 it is illegal for state schools to charge for admission or education provided within normal hours. [3] [5] In June 2022, Gordon's was judged Boarding School of the Year by the TES (Times Educational Supplement).

Contents

History

The school was founded by public subscription in 1885 as the Gordon Boys' Home, as the National Memorial to General Gordon of Khartoum, an officer of the Corps of Royal Engineers, who had been killed in 1885. According to the school, the idea came from Queen Victoria, who was its first patron. However, in 1914 due to the first World War, the school was closed for the duration. It then reopened soon after, in early 1919.The reigning monarch of the United Kingdom has been a patron ever since. Its first commandant was Major General Henry Tyndall, CB, ex 2nd Punjab Infantry, and its first home was Fort Wallingford. [6]

Gordon's began as a home for underprivileged boys, but it quickly became a boys' boarding school. In 1888, the Gordon Foundation was established as an independent charitable trust to administer the school. In 1990, the first girls were admitted. [7] It converted from being a voluntary aided school to an academy 1 January 2013. [1] [8]

Student body

Gordon's is now a co-educational Academy school, and the pupils are a mixture of full and weekly boarders (judged outstanding in all categories of boarding by Ofsted in 2014 [9] ) and day students. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is in line with national figures, but a higher proportion of pupils than is typical nationally have an education, health and care plan. The percentage of pupils who are supported by the pupil premium is well below the national average. The proportions of pupils who are from minority ethnic groups or speak English as an additional language are in line with national averages. [10] Some two thirds of the pupils are day students. [11] The school was subject to a Section 8 inspection in 2017 where it and its safeguarding procedures were judged to be outstanding. [10]

Facilities

There are over 40 acres (160,000 m2) of playing fields complete with cricket nets and athletics track. [8]

Buildings

The central building on the south side of the Parade Ground is the Assembly Hall and Reception building that was completed in 1887, designed by William Butterfield, in a Gothic revival style. [12] To the south of the original 1885 buildings is a Grade II listed building: [13] the 1894 memorial school chapel built in memory of Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of Edward, Prince of Wales who had helped fundraise for the boys home. It has a 4 bay criciform pan and was designed by William Butterfield in Early English Gothic style.

Curriculum

Virtually all maintained schools and academies follow the National Curriculum, and are inspected by Ofsted on how well they succeed in delivering a 'broad and balanced curriculum'. [14] Schools endeavour to get all students to achieve the English Baccalaureate (EBACC) qualification - this must include core subjects, a modern or ancient foreign language, and either History or Geography.

Ofsted in 2014 said that "the academic standards attained by students are very high. The proportion of students achieving five GCSE grades at A* to C, including English and mathematics is well above average. The quality of teaching is consistently good and often outstanding. Students are very enthusiastic about their learning because of this. Regular homework is used very effectively to promote their progress." [9]

Extra curricular

Gordon's School pipe band has around 30 bagpipers, 10 snare drummers, 6 tenor drummers and two bass drummers. The school marching band leads students along Whitehall London every January to the statue of General Gordon as part of the school's Memorial Weekend. As well as taking part in the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, members of the Pipes and Drums also play every year at the Menin Gate in the Last Post Ceremony and have performed for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. [8]

In 2017, the Pipes and Drums bandmaster, Cecil McCready, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for three counts of sexual assault with a child by a person in a position of trust. [15] McCready, a retired Irish Guard, had worked at the school for 17 years before his arrest and led the band to perform for the Queen at Commonwealth Day in 2014. [16]

Notable students

References and notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Gordon's School - GOV.UK". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Ofsted (8 October 2020). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "The state schools where parents are charged thousands in fees". the Guardian. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Gordon's School: Join Us". Gordon's School Website.
  5. ↑ "Education Act 1996 Part VI". UK Legislation. 24 June 1996.
  6. ↑ "Gordon's School - History of Gordon's School". www.gordons.school. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  7. ↑ "History". Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 "CASE STUDY 2019: GORDON's SCHOOL, SURREY". Diplomat Magazine. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Ofsted Section 5". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Ofsted Section 8 2017". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020. UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright
  11. ↑ "Ofsted 2007". ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Stuff, Good. "Assembly Hall and Reception, Gordon's School, Woking, Surrey". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Stuff, Good. "Gordon's School Chapel, Woking, Surrey". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Nerys. "The school curriculum in England Parliamentary Briefing Paper" (PDF). parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Talbot, Charlotte (3 March 2017). "Music teacher jailed for sexual relations with pupil". SurreyLive. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ceremony, Gordon's School". Gordon's School. March 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  17. ↑ Bird, Steve (17 March 2006). "Bright pupil and budding actor who took on role of a serial killer". The Times. Retrieved 21 August 2024.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's School, Harpenden</span> Academy in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England

St George's School, Harpenden is a non-selective day and boarding school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England, educating students of both sexes between the ages of eleven and eighteen, with an emphasis on its Christian ethos. It was founded in 1907 as one of Britain's first mixed-sex boarding schools. The school has International School status. The School was named as the Sunday Times' 'Comprehensive School of the Year' in 2019. In 2022, the School was ranked as the 122nd best secondary state school in the country based on combined GCSE attainment and A-Level point scores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poynton High School</span> Academy in Poynton, Cheshire, England

Poynton High School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in Poynton, Cheshire, just outside Greater Manchester. The school was maintained by the Cheshire East Local Education Authority until December 2018 when it converted and became a founder member of the True Learning Partnership. The school was opened in 1972, and was awarded Arts College status in 2002. It has 1,421 pupils between Years 7 and 13. This includes a sixth form of 285 pupils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flegg High Ormiston Academy</span> Academy in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Flegg High Ormiston Academy is an 11–16 mixed secondary school with academy status in Martham, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Edward VII Academy</span> Academy in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

King Edward VII Academy is a large, mixed comprehensive secondary school in Gaywood Road (A148), King's Lynn, Norfolk, England with around 1,300 pupils, including about 300 in sixth form education. Prior to the school year beginning in September 1979, KES was an all-boys state grammar school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsmouth Academy</span> Secondary, academy in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

The Portsmouth Academy is a secondary school with academy status, located in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on St Mary's Road in the central district of Fratton near St Mary's Church. Originally established as a girls' school, it became co-educational in the 2017/18 school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrick Wood School</span> Academy school in Orpington, Greater London, England

Darrick Wood School is a mixed secondary school in Orpington, London Borough of Bromley, United Kingdom with a current roll of 1785 pupils. It was first opened in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Canterbury Academy</span> Academy in Canterbury, Kent, England

The Canterbury Academy is a co-educational 11-19 academy school in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is a specialist Sports College and 15% of its 1081 pupils are selected on musical aptitude. The school was founded as a non-selective secondary modern foundation school before gaining academy status in 2010.

Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich (HBAED) is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status for boys, located in the Peckham area of the London Borough of Southwark, England. Students arrive from 55 different feeder schools.

Ottershaw School was founded in 1948 as an English school for boys in Ottershaw Park, Ottershaw, approximately 30 miles (48 km) southwest of London between Chertsey and Woking, Surrey, south of England, on an estate that dated back to 1761, when the first house was built there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workington Academy</span> Academy in Workington, Cumbria, England

Workington Academy is a mixed secondary school in Workington, Cumbria that was formed in September 2015 as a result of the merger of Southfield Technology College and Stainburn School and Science College.

The NCEA Duke's Secondary School is an 11–19 academy in Ashington, Northumberland, England. It is part of the Northumberland Church of England Trust occupying the Josephine Butler Campus of its predecessor, The Northumberland Church of England Academy, which was an all-through school spread out across six campuses in southeastern Northumberland.

Welling School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the Welling area of the London Borough of Bexley, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harris Academy Battersea</span> Academy in Battersea, London, England

Harris Academy Battersea is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located near Battersea Park in the Battersea area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey</span> Academy in Minster-on-Sea, Kent, England

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located over two sites in Minster-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey in the English county of Kent. It is currently managed by the Oasis Community Learning Multi-academy Trust.

Greenacre Academy, is a boys' secondary school with a shared sixth form located in Walderslade in the English county of Kent.

Queen Elizabeth School, also abbreviated to QES, is a coeducational, comprehensive secondary school and sixth form with academy status. It is located in Kirkby Lonsdale, in the English county of Cumbria. In October 2022, it had a population of 1,170 students aged 11 to 18 in KS3 and KS4, and 186 in the sixth form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oasis Academy Lister Park</span> Academy in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

Oasis Academy Lister Park is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The school is named after Lister Park which is located near the school campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oasis Academy Don Valley</span> Academy in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Oasis Academy Don Valley is an all-through school located in the Attercliffe area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The school opened in September 2015, and is sponsored by the Oasis Trust. It opened with just 4 year groups and these are working their way through the school, in September 2020 the oldest students had entered the first year nine. The school is somewhat unusual in teaching German as the first foreign language.

Sunnydown School is a special secondary school situated in the town of Caterham in Surrey, England. Founded in 1949, it is the second oldest special school in Surrey. The school educates students aged 11 to 18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of Kent School</span> Independent school in Ewhurst, Surrey, England

Duke of Kent School is a coeducational, independent school for pupils aged 3–16 in Ewhurst, Surrey, England. It was formed in 1976 through the merger of Vanbrugh Castle School, Greenwich, and Woolpit School, Ewhurst. Originally a boarding school, it has educated day pupils only since 2014. It is named for Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.